BART is good, and here's why

December 5, 2018 4:05 AM

It's often the cheapest way to get to the airport.

If you don't mind lugging your suitcase to your closest BART station, you can take the inexpensive route to SFO and Oakland International Airport. The BART fare cost between Antioch and SFO? Just $13.15 with a Clipper card — far cheaper than even a shared Lyft or Uber.

It's often the cheapest way to get to the airport.
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It's usually your fastest commute option into and out of San Francisco during rush hour.

Traffic is up and it's getting worse, and toll costs are due to increase in January. You car might be a little more comfortable for your morning commute, but delays aside, BART is still the fastest way to get into and out of the city during peak travel times.

It's bike-friendly. Most the time.
In every new BART car...photo-16387205.187852 - |ucfirst

It's cheaper and faster than the ferry.

True, riding BART may not be as picturesque as taking the ferry across the Bay, but with the ferry costing between $5-$11 just to get to the East Bay, the wallet and time-friendly option is taking the train. Of course, BART does not run to some of the areas most popular ferry destinations.

Homes and businesses within half a mile of BART get a boost in property values, which in turn generates more property tax revenues. That extra tax, which goes to local governments for local projects, works out to be more than $750 million per year, according to BART.

Unlike Muni in San Francisco, which might require you to take up to three or four bus lines to get to your destination, you never need to transfer more than once on BART, even to cross the entire Bay Area. Though, as critics point out, many would be happy to transfer more if they system reached more places.

Those who opt to be passengers on BART rather than drive every weekday save over 300 gallons of gas and 5,987 pounds of carbon dioxide every year, according to BART. The agency is also working towards running on 100 percent renewable sources.

It's really easy to get to the Oakland Coliseum....photo-16285690.187852 - |ucfirst

It puts L.A.'s transit options to shame.

Santa Monica and Anaheim are about 44 miles apart — roughly the same distance as Antioch to San Francisco — but without a good railway in Southern California it would take you more than twice as long (over two hours) to make that trip by car in typical weekday traffic.

Unlike instances of unforeseen and mysterious causes of traffic, BART operators will tell you what's going on if there's a delay. Plus, they have an active Twitter account able to answer most questions and field complaints.

If you don't mind lugging your suitcase to your closest BART station, you can take the inexpensive route to SFO and Oakland International Airport. The BART fare cost between Antioch and SFO? Just $13.15 with a Clipper card — far cheaper than even a shared Lyft or Uber.